AF canceling captain's boards

May. 7, 2013 - 06:00AM
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First lieutenants will no longer face a central selection board to exchange their one bar for two.

The central selection board for captain is being eliminated to help the service save time and money, said an Air Force spokeswoman.

More than 3,000 first lieutenants are in the zone for promotion this year; another 213 above the zone first lieutenants also are being considered for promotion to captain. The only thing that will stand between them and making O3 this year is their chain of command.

Air Force spokeswoman Capt. Candice Ismirle said the service switched to a board process in 2011, but realized over the last two years the process did not substantially alter how many first lieutenants were promoted to the next grade. The promotion selection rate is about 95 percent.

Prior to moving to a board selection process, first lieutenants were automatically promoted based on the recommendation of the senior rater, or senior officer in their chain of command. Ismirle said unless there is something negative in an O2ís personnel file, promotion chances are good, but not guaranteed.

Ismirle said promotion opportunity will be 100 percent, as it was prior to 2011, and officers who were expecting to meet the next promotion board will not have their future promotion opportunities impacted.